Aussie MotoGP star Jack Miller is embracing the pressure of KTM young gun Pedro Acosta’s imminent promotion to MotoGP amid speculation his factory seat could come under threat as soon as next season.
Miller is nearing the end of a bumpy first campaign with the factory KTM team, which he joined this year from Ducati on a two-year contract.
The four-time premier-class winner stood on the podium just four rounds into his tenure, but he hasn’t mounted the rostrum since but for a top-three finish in the sprint race in Germany in June.
Teammate Brad Binder has stood on the Sunday podium four times and finished inside the sprint top three at a further six events, including a pair of Saturday victories.
It’s earnt the South African 268 points, some 105 points more than Miller’s 163-point haul, leaving them fourth and 11th respectively on the title table.
KTM is 100 points behind the factory Ducati squad in the teams championship.
With the much-feted Moto3 and new Moto2 champion Acosta set to debut in MotoGP next season with the KTM-affiliated Gas Gas team, some have speculated that Miller could be shuffled to the satellite squad instead to fast-track the rookie’s potential in the premier class.
Red Bull-owned Speedweek has reported that rumours abound inside KTM itself that Miller could become collateral in the brand’s efforts to capitalise on its hold on the 19-year-old, who many consider to be the sport’s next Marc Márquez.
Miller and Acosta and KTM are all backed by Red Bull.
KTM motorsport director Pit Beirer was noncommittal when asked about the rumour earlier this month.
“I don’t know what will happen to us at Christmas,” he told Speedweek. “But the current plan is that we will see Pedro and Augusto [Fernández] at the Gas Gast and Jack and Brad at the KTM.”
Beirer was only a little clearer when pressed for a more definitive answer.
“We believe that the line-up we have right now is a very good one,” he said. “With Brad and Jack we have two guys with a lot of experience at Red Bull KTM. They are also the first to receive new parts to develop and sort out.
“Augusto is going into his second season at Gas Gas, and Pedro, as a rookie, should come into MotoGP for the first year without pressure and work there in peace.
“When you’re on the grid in orange at Red Bull KTM, maybe that’s a certain kind of pressure. That’s why we think it’s the right way to start with a lot of calm with Pedro in his first year at [Gas Gas principal] Hervé Poncharal with his great experience and his team.
“We will then set the course for the future at an early stage.”
At best that would appear to put Miller in the firing line at the start of next season, suggesting that a decision will be made about the Aussie’s future with the factory team in the opening months of the 2024 campaign.
KTM has developed a reputation for bombastic rider management. Acosta’s arrival in the sport has been messy, with the brand having signed up five riders despite fielding only four bikes.
When efforts to expand its presence on the grid were rebuffed by the sport, it was forced to axe Pol Espargaró, who has one year still to run on his contract and who spent the first six months of the year sidelined with serious injuries.
Speaking to MotoGP Guru, Miller said there was no doubt Acosta was an impressive prospect after winning the Moto2 title this year.
“He’s the new shiny object obviously,” he said. “That’s the way it goes — for the right reasons.
“He’s had an amazing year. Just watching the past couple of grands prix, the way he managed that whole situation to put the championship to bed was impressive. They were very mature rides. He did what he needed to.”
But Miller dealt with speculation that his seat could be in imminent danger with a dead bat.
“Any of those fast rookies coming in are always going to be targeting us, targeting the guys that have been there a while,” he said.
“It’s good for us to have that extra bit of motivation, extra push behind us, that these young fellas are coming in and nipping at our heels.”
Miller’s KTM campaign has delivered mixed results, with a strong start giving way to a form slump through the middle of year, with the Aussie admitting to losing his way with set-up on the unfamiliar bike.
He’s also struggled at races to which Michelin has brought its harder rear tyre casing to deal with extreme conditions, notably Austria (15th), India (14th) and Thailand (18th).
His form has rebounded somewhat since KTM brought its new carbon fibre chassis to the Japanese Grand Prix, though not enough to keep up with Binder.
“It hasn’t been easy, but it hasn’t been terrible,” Miller said. “Ups and downs, but that was to be anticipated when you’re moving manufacturers in 2023 in MotoGP. Everything’s so cutthroat that it’s to be expected a little bit.
“Of course we always want more. We’re greedy, motorcycle racers, so we always want a little bit more. But we’re taking our licks. We’re understanding, trying to learn from everything.
“Hopefully that’ll prepare us for what is to come.”
Miller has one last round to end his campaign on a high this weekend in Valencia.
The Aussie has a good record at the Spanish track, having finished on the podium three times in the premier class and having won the race in his final season in Moto3.
Though he could mathematically finish as high as sixth in the standings, his battle is more realistically with Alex Márquez and Fabio Quartararo, two and four points ahead of him respectively on the title table.
